Chair convertible to a couch



Nov. 16, 1954 W.'P. FRECH CHAIR CONVERTIBLE TO A COUCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 3, 1951 1. 6 In 7 V w. P. FRECH 2,694,438

CHAIR CONVERTIBLE TO A COUCH Nov. 16, 1954 Filed April 3, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent CHAIR CONVERTIBLE TO A COUCH Wilhelm Paul Frech, Stuttgart-Uhlbach, Germany Application April 3, 1951, Serial No. 219,089 Claims priority, application West Germany April 5, 1950 4 Claims. (Cl. 155-45) This invention relates to a chair convertible to a couch,

using tubular members and bars which are assembled without hinges and screw connections.

It has already been proposed to assemble tubular bars to form bed frames, whereby transverse bars are inserted into longitudinal bars or into connecting members in the form of sockets secured to the longitudinal bars. Two undivided longitudinal bars are associated with four U-shaped transverse bars bent at right angles at their ends. Such frames are used as fiat couches only. Unless the couch is used by children, the longitudinal bars have to be adapted to the length of an adults body and are subjected to bending stress. The frames are heavy and are not suited for convenient transportation to be taken along, for instance, on trips to picnic or bathing places. The known couches have no head support, and a pillow can be placed only on the fabric strip between the longitudinal bars. A further disadvantage is that such couches can be used in one way only, that is, as a bedlike frame. They are not convertible to be used for other purposes.

Foldable cot frames consisting of separate longitudinal and transverse frame members are also known, which frames, however, require hinges and detachable screw connections. These frames were convertible to form a chair or a table. Frames of this kind are costly to manufacture and are not suitable for profitable mass production. Moreover, they have the disadvantage that several bow-shaped members serving as foot supports are necessary, which renders the frame, when assembled, heavy and unmanageable. The screw bolts and nuts provided to fasten separate frame members together may be mislaid or lost, and it will also be necessary to provide separate locking means to prevent the frame members from collapsing.

The object of the present invention is to eliminate, in

a simple and effective manner, the disadvantages and deficiencies of the known constructions. According to the invention, relatively thin tubular steel members are used to form stable but resilient frames. Tubular parts are slid through end loops of fabric strips and are secured to the main frame at each end thereof either in a flat or in an inclined position. If the main frame is put in an upright position and the tubular parts are secured to serve as a front and a rear leg section, the couch is transformed into a chair.

In accordance with my invention, the main frame carrying a longitudinal strip of fabric consists of two longitudinal tubes and of two pairs of tubular extensions, a portion of each tubular extension being bent at an obtuse angle with respect to the other portion, the tubular extensions extending vertically and forwardly of the longitudinal tubes and being connected by U-shaped transverse bars. According to further features of the invention, to accommodate two transversely extending fabric strips, two pairs of identical tubular parts are provided, a portion of each tubular part being bent at an obtuse angle with respect to the other portion, the tubular parts extending in the planes of the longitudinal tubes, the arms of these tubular parts being provided with sockets to be placed over the ends of the main frame members. The tubular parts are connected by transverse bars identical in form with those of the main frame.

The longitudinal tubes are provided at one end with tubular plugs and abutment rings, the former being partly inserted in the longitudinal tubes. The pairs of tubular extensions to be assembled with the longitudinal tubes are provided at one end with abutment rings and pins.

2,694,438 Patented Nov. 16, 1954 At the latter end, the tubular extensions are connected to the transverse bars, each of which has a recess at its ends to engage a pin of the tubular extension. At the other end, each of a pair of tubular extensions has a plug palrtly inserted therein for insertion in the longitudinal tu es.

The accompanying drawings illustrate by way of example an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 1 shows the tubes or tubular members of the main frame pulled out so as to be separated;

Figure 2 shows the main frame in assembled condition, lthe longitudinal strip of fabric being shown in dash-dotted mes;

Figure 3 illustrates the system of tubes assembled as a couch with head support and feet support arranged horizontally, the strips of fabric being shown in dash dotted lines;

Figure 4 shows the couch according to Figure 3, with the head support set up in an elevated position;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the system of tubes assembled as a chair, and

Figure 6 shows individual parts, drawn to a scale larger than that of Figures 1 to 5.

The main frame consists of longitudinal tubes .1, pairs 2 and 3 of obtuse-angled tubular extensions, and U-shaped transverse bars 4 having their ends inserted into the ends of the angularly bent extensions. At one end of the longitudinal tubes 1, and at the ends of the pair of angular extensions 3 adjacent to the longitudinal tubes are inserted plugs 6, preferably in the form of tubes fastened by rivet pins 5. Abutment rings 7 are provided on the longitudinal tubes 1 at the point at whichthe plugs 6 emerge, and on the angle tubes 2 and 3 near the ends accommodating the transverse bars 4. Rivet pins 5 also serve to fasten the abutment rings 7. The transverse bars 4 of the main frame are passed through tubular loops made in a longitudinal strip of fabric 8 by stitching, this strip extending over the main frame. The pairs of the referred to angularly bent tubular extensions differ as far as their connecting means are concerned, but are otherwise identical.

To the tubular parts 9 which are bent at an obtuse angle, and between which transversely extending fabrics 10 extend, sockets 11 are welded, which are placed over the ends of the pairs of angle tubes 2 and 3 and bear against the abutment rings 7. In Fig. 3, the head and foot supports, each being formed by two tubular parts 9, a bar 4, and a fabric strip 10, are disposed horizontally. In Fig. 4, one of the supports (head support) is shown in upright position.

The transverse bars 4 are provided at their ends with notches 12 which engage the rivet pins 5 of the abutment rings 7 when the transverse bars are inserted into the angle tubes 2 and 3.

To assemble the parts to form a chair as shown in Figure 5, both pairs of tubular parts 9 are placed over the pair of angle tubes 2, and, in association with their associated transverse bars 4, constitute the legs of the lon chair.

The parts assembled to form a long chair as shown in Figure 5 can also be arranged as a short couch, for instance for children, by changing the position of the main frame, that is to say, the back part of the chair, so that it rests on the ground.

The various tubular members are preferably made of such dimensions that the dismantled parts, together with the longitudinal and transverse fabric strips, can easily be carried in a satchel. Alternatively, the parts and strips of fabric may also be stored away or carried in a receptacle especially made for this purpose, for instance, of canvas.

Furthermore, my construction may be carried out in miniature and used as a convertible article of dolls furniture, with the particular advantage that it will last for many years.

The setting up of my construction requires only a few manual operations, and can, therefore, be effected very quickly. If required, coloured markings may be provided at the connection points of the parts so as to facilitate correct assembling. Instead of colored markings.

1. Chair convertible to a couch, comprising two spaced upwardly and rearwardly inclined tubular side members forming the sides of a back section,- upper tubular ex tensions detachably connected to the upper ends of the side members and having upwardly and forwardly bent portions, a U-shaped transversely extending rod having its ends detachably connected to said bent portions, lower tubular extensions detachably connected to the lower ends of the side members and having lower portions bent to extend horizontally forwardly to form the sides of a seat section, a U-shaped rod extending transversely and having its ends detachably connected to the forward ends of the lower portions, two tubular parts detachably con nected to said forward ends of the lower portions and having downwardly and forwardly directed bends, a U-shaped bar extending transversely and having its ends detachably connected to the bends, the bends and the U-shaped bar connected thereto forming a frontleg section, two tubular parts detachably connected to the lower ends of the side members and having downwardly and rearwardly' directed bends, a U-shaped bar extending transversely and having its ends detachably connectedto the second named bends, the second named bends and the U-shaped bar connected thereto forming a rear leg section, and three fabric strips supported, respectively, by the first named two U-shaped rods, the bends of the front leg section, and the bends of the rear leg section, said chair being" adapted to be converted to a couch by detaching the rear leg section from the chair assembly, setting the back section horizontally on the floor, using the front leg section as a head support, and attaching the rear leg section to said upper portions to serve as a foot support.

2. In the-chair according to claim 1, the upper and lower tubular extensions being identical, and the two U-shaped rods being identical.

3. In the chair according to claim 1, each of the first and second named two tubular parts being provided alongside thereof with two sockets, each of the sockets being dimensioned to receive an end of an upper or lower tubular extension and an end of a U-shaped rod.

4. In the chair according to claim 3, each of said four parts being bent at at obtuse angle, one leg of said angle being shorter than the other leg, one of said sockets being provided at the end of said shorter leg, and the o'ltheg sglcket being provided alongside the longer leg near t e en References Cited in the fileof this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Niirnber Name Date 944,661 Buck Dec. 28, 1909 2,209,145 Weber July 23, 1940 2,558,995 Tullis July 3, 1951 

